They aren't as quick off the mark as they once were, but reaching the twilight years didn't stop the 800 veterans who descended on North Yorkshire for the Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival.

The event attracts players from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, the US and Japan. As the oldest veteran there, Lloyd Edwards, 78, found himself a bit of a celebrity. The retired schoolteacher, who flew over from Canada for the festival, has been playing the sport since 1939.

This year's event saw three days of cricket at 29 grounds across North Yorkshire, with players aged between 40 and 78. The oldest 11 players had a combined age of 813 years.

It was the first time the festival has been held in northern England, having previously been held in Brighton and Birmingham.

*****

While we're on the subject of sport, the football season is getting off to an interesting start, both on and off the field. As Blackpool thrashed Wigan 4-0 and even spent a brief afternoon at the top of the Premiership, the question remains as to who will newly own Liverpool FC as a bidding battle ensues. Those who have placed their cards on the table include the Chinese mogul Kenny Huang and the Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi, as well as some who remain unnamed.

The club said it was determined to ensure not only that the bidders had the money to back up their interest – but that they will deal with Liverpool's debts and, most importantly, commit to building a new stadium to replace Anfield.

*****

Across the Pennines, Manchester provided us with plenty of fun and games, as its Caribbean Carnival got under way. Over the weekend, the north's answer to the Notting Hill festivities featured floats that blasted out groovy Caribbean beats as dance troupes followed behind. The costumes were bright and sparkly and the sun shone. Add in a cocktail, and what more could you ask for?

*****

As the party continued in Manchester, it seemed the celebs were everywhere – in Blackpool, to be precise, where even more star-studded entertainment is on its way. The acts weren't quite MJ status, but young music fans were in their element at the Empress Ballroom as Scouting For Girls, the Saturdays, Basshunter, Alexandra Burke and McFly took to the stage.

And it doesn't stop there: Robbie Williams has already been announced as the headline act for the annual switch-on of Blackpool's illuminations. Now, I was never a Take That fan, but come on, he's pretty famous. There's more: Peter Andre is soon to return to Blackpool – yes, apparently he has been once already – to unveil his waxwork at Louis Tussaud's. Who needs casinos, with all these bright lights?

*****

Up north, the sun doesn't always shine as much as we might like. I'm not going to pretend, there is a tendency towards rain, and a last-minute summer holiday is a very attractive prospect.

So, if you want to get in shape for the beach, you could give up bread. Salford boy Jason Manford, the new frontman of the One Show, kicked the white bread habit to get in shape for his new job with the Beeb. He tweeted his progress to fans and perhaps even inspired a few followers to shed some pounds, but his jokes on the subject weren't so encouraging: "It's OK, I managed to kick the white bread habit. I went cold turkey sandwiches."

The Northerner recommends:

The Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria, is showing Tennessee Williams's The Glass until 3 November. The story surrounds a cramped tenement apartment in 1930s St Louis inhabited by a mother who clings frantically to her memories of southern belle gentility, her poet son with a job in a warehouse whose only escape is the movies, a daughter as fragile as a piece of her own glass collection, and a gentleman caller...